Habibou African Hair Braiding — Local services in Garfield Heights

My mom went in 2weeks before and got micros that cost $220 with hair included for her FULL head. Her natural hair is about 1.5in long. My hair is 4c so shrinkage is a given but it is an easy 4inches when stretched. I also have a bald fade around the perimeter of my head so there is literally only the top that needed to be done. I asked for medium box braids. I was told my hair would cost $240! I was desperate to get it done because I have an event coming up and they did very well on my moms hair. They make you pay for your hair 1/4 way into the service. Also while trimming the stray hairs from the finished braids, I realized the woman was cutting pieces of my natural hair off. She told me some women ask to have their hair cut, but I never did, and she didnt ask me prior if it was okay with me!!! When I left, I went home to rinse my scalp in the shower to relieve the tightness, I noticed around my wrists and neck became itchy. I feel this may be an allergic reaction to the hair 😞. Also, although the braids themselves are neat, what I received was NOT box braids! Not to mention my hair being clipped. There was no box/square parting and the braids are entirely too tight, I had to take Advil and think I will be returning to have them removed. This was a very disappointing experience and certainly my first and last time there. Overpriced is an understatement

UPDATE

I spoke to the young lady bibi and told her I was in excruciating pain and that my style was not box braids like I had asked. I also mentioned my hair being overpriced compared to my moms. The young lady said my hair was tight because it was short and needed to be gripped. She said they could put grease on it, but everyone braids different and it’s just tight like that because of my length. She also said that African box braids are different, and that all Africans do box braids this way and if I wanted square parts, I needed to specifically ask for “knotless box braids/square parting.” She told me every picture that has square parting on their IG those clients specifically requested that kind of part and that all Africans do box braids this way (as in how my hair looked in the picture below) . She also stated that they DONT do refunds and they DONT redo the style.

Side note: Now not only have I never heard of BOX braids not being done with BOX parting. I’ve never heard of needing to specify a square part. The literal definition of a box braid is a braid using extension hair with a boxy or square part and the literal difference between a KNOT-LESS BOX braid and a BOX braid is just the absence of the knot!! the parting is exactly the same, but one has a knot and one doesn’t smh. It’s ludicrous!!

I went into the shop anyways after speaking with the young lady because I was in an incredible amount of pain and could not keep the braids. I couldn’t move my head or bend because it felt like my hair was going to rip from my scalp 🥺😭. When I showed the woman my hair she made a noise like “ouch” and agreed they were too tight. My scalp was swollen, follicles pulled incredibly taught and had I left them in there, I would’ve been bald.

When the woman removed my braids, it hurt. I could also feel she was cutting too closely. When she finished, she offered to massage my scalp with oil and was so heavy handed, even though I said it hurt, she continued. Afterwards she said I would have to speak to the owner to see if I could get my hair redone. So I walked out with nothing. It was immensely traumatic.

Not only have I never been to an African braider, but there was nothing that stated their definition of box braids would be different. Nothing on their signage or IG posts said anything about needing to clarify their parting when receiving a normally universal hairstyle.

How can an establishment overcharge you, not give you the correct style, cut pieces of your real hair without consent, nearly damage your hair follicles and then refuse to redo your style or reimburse you??? It’s THEFT and BAD business!!! I am devastated and strongly advise against...

I want to first say that my hair looks amazing. However, I scheduled an appointment for 2pm on a Thursday a couple weeks in advance. I wanted mid back medium knotless braids. I arrive at 2pm and see everyone is already with a client. I say I’m there for my 2pm appointment the lead woman looks nervous. She gets on the phone (I’m like she is calling someone in to do my hair). She asks me if I can wait an hour. Okay fine I was prepared to get my hair done so I waited the hour, my hair did not get started until 330 pm. Getting braids has never been so painful I feel like my hair was yanked and pulled out my scalp especially during the parting. ( I know your like why didn’t you say anything I was just trusting the process). My hair was done by 8pm. No discount was offered for them being an hour and a half late and I also didn’t request one.

I would recommend this place because like I said my hair looks fantastic I would just try to be there early in the morning to avoid any delays in the time the appointment starts. If you have somewhere to be or even the same day get your hair done there the day before.

The price is fair it was 240 plus 20 for the hair or you can provide your own which I did see...

Wish I had better report. Young lady who initially answered my call seemed nice enough. Seems ok but after sitting really long for supposedly 2 people to do my knotless braids ..I walk out with the most u ever braids I've ever had, edges not dipped properly. I'm all for working women but hearing a baby cry on and off for hours bc he's been in a stroller for extended amounts of time and I never saw him changed in the 6 hours I was there. Beyond that the price jumped from 180 to 300 still not sure how. Behind that the one young lady in my ear swearing and using questionable language in general while she spoke to her male friends in different cities. It left much to be desired. A lady came in to "help" with my hair at one point she blew her nose and I never saw her wash her hands and she was right back in my hair. I wish I could be refunded it's just not even worth the fight. Really mind blown almost 2 weeks later I had to...